The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a major move in the way Australia delivers support to individuals living with a significant and permanent disability. This is a major move from the fragmented support services, which were hard to access before the NDIS. The NDIS has emerged as a new pillar of empowerment, which provides the individual with the necessary funding to live an ordinary life. The NDIS has moved from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to an individualised approach, where the individual has the power of choice and control.
Understanding NDIS Support Services
The NDIS is all about the support services, which act as a bridge between the funding allocated to the individual and the actual improvement in the life of the individual. These support services are diverse and aim to meet the unique needs of the individual. The services are diverse, ranging from helping the individual with their daily personal activities to making major changes to the individual’s home to accommodate the needs of the individual. This will, therefore, mean that the individual will have a support worker assist them with their morning activities, make meals, and take them to appointments.
The importance of NDIS support services in Australia cannot be overstated, as they are the actual tools to provide the individual with the necessary empowerment. Rather than the individual relying on friends and family members to provide the necessary support, the individual can now access the necessary support services to assist them in their time of need. This provides a framework to ensure the sustainability of the individual, maintaining the individual’s dignity at all times.
These support services also include the various therapies, such as physiotherapy, speech pathology, and occupational therapy, to assist the individual in building the necessary capacity to live a long and healthy life.
Fostering Community Inclusion and Social Participation
The most significant outcome of the NDIS is the emphasis on community inclusion. Disability support is not just limited to providing medical support, assistance with home life, and other such activities, but it is also about enabling all members of society to participate fully in the community. In fact, as part of the NDIS plans, there may even be provisions for funding social and community participation.
When people with disabilities are included in the community, they play an important role in breaking down barriers, overcoming stereotypes, and creating an inclusive society. The NDIS enables this through the support workers or transportation provided to enable the person with disabilities to participate in the community.
This is an important shift from mere survival to thriving in life. Through the NDIS, the person with disabilities is able to economically and socially participate, enabling them to build relationships, skills, and share the special gifts they have to offer to the Australian community.
Navigating the Path to Access
Accessing the services involves the person with disabilities needing to understand the process, including the requirements for accessing the services provided. This is done by first making contact with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to ascertain whether the person with disabilities meets the requirements for accessing the services based on age, residency, and disability status.
After access is granted, the next step is a meeting in order to discuss the individual’s situation and goals. This process can seem quite complex, although there are resources available to assist. The Local Area Coordinators (LAC) and Early Childhood Partners are significant people who can assist the participant to better understand their plans and make connections to service providers.
Additionally, should the participant have more complex support needs, a Support Coordinator can be funded to assist the participant to negotiate with service providers to effectively manage their service agreements. The aim is to allow all participants to effectively use their funding to achieve their individual aspirations.
A Future of Choice and Control
The potential for the NDIS to change lives is based on the underlying promise of ‘choice and control.’ The NDIS is based on the belief that people who live with disability are experts in their own lives and should have the power to control their lives. By providing the resources necessary to access the services available to them, the NDIS is allowing Australians to live independently to achieve their aspirations. As the NDIS continues to evolve, this is an important tool to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all people!
